Back on Claw Island, Edmund and his group brought the creature's remains to a secluded warehouse, where Gregor and other scholars had set up an improvised space for analysis. The putrid stench filled the air, making the atmosphere heavy and nauseating, but no one dared to complain. The knowledge extracted from that aberration could be the key to understanding the hidden dangers of the archipelago.
Gregor lit several lamps around the large wooden table where the beast's remains lay. He picked up a thin blade and began cutting samples of the scaly skin, making notes on scattered parchments.
"This structure..." he murmured, observing a sample under a rudimentary magnifying lens. "It doesn't resemble anything I've studied before. The texture is similar to dragon leather, but there's something else… something more synthetic."
Edmund, arms crossed, watched intently.
"Are you saying this creature was created? Or altered?" he asked.
Gregor sighed, hesitant.
"It's too early to say. But look at this," he pointed at a bone fragment taken from the beast's spine. "This bone doesn't seem to have grown naturally. There are signs of fusion with some kind of black metal. Whether this creature was born this way or forged by human hands, I still don't know."
Kieza stepped closer, lightly touching the scaly surface. A shiver ran down her spine.
"There's something wrong with this… not just its appearance. I can feel something… dark," she whispered.
Voss, who had remained in the background, grumbled:
"Whatever it is, we know this won't be the last one we face. We need to find a weakness before more of these things appear."
Gregor nodded and continued his analysis. They tested different blades against the creature's thick hide, discovering that only enchanted metals or silver-forged weapons could cut through its flesh with ease. They also noticed that the beast's blood continued to emit faint fumes even after hours of exposure to the air.
"This could mean that its composition has some connection to magic," Gregor observed, carefully noting his findings. "We need to alert everyone. If magic is involved, then we may not just be dealing with beasts… but with something far greater."
Edmund nodded, feeling a growing weight on his shoulders. He knew his journey was far from over and that the answers they sought might only lead to even more terrifying questions.
"Continue the study. I want every detail documented. If this creature was sent by someone, we need to find out who's behind it… and what else might be waiting for us out there." His voice was cold and resolute.
The scholars returned to their work, and the night wore on as unsolved mysteries lingered in the air of Claw Island.